8 Books/Manga Like My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a superhero-themed shonen manga written by Kohei Horikoshi. This manga contains some emotional dialogue, epic battles, and well-rounded characters. It’s currently being serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine since July 2014. The series has spawned 36 volumes to its name, an anime adaptation, several video game adaptations, film spin-offs, and more.
If you’re in the mood for more superhero-themed adventure manga that offers a similar vibe, fear not! We’ve gathered together 8 books/manga to check out when you’ve caught up with My Hero Academia. Of course, if you feel we’ve missed any of your favorites, do comment below and let us know!
One Punch Man – ONE
Similarities – Superheroes
My Hero Academia fans looking for another action-packed superhero manga should look no further than One Punch Man. This manga contains well-detailed artwork, impressive fights, and distinct characters. In it, we follow the mundane life of a heroic citizen named Saitama who can defeat any challenger with a single punch.
With this incredible power, comes its downsides. Saitama doesn’t get as much recognition for his heroism as he deserves. He doesn’t adore fighting villains either because of his incredible strength. Fortunately, Saitama’s life gets more interesting when he meets a cyborg named Genos. Genos tells Saitama that he can join the Hero Association and work under them to attain more popularity.
Therefore, the story focuses on Genos and Saitama’s lives as they battle numerous foes to become well-known heroes. This manga feels more parodic compared to My Hero Academia. It pokes fun at various superhero tropes while also featuring fights that will get your adrenaline pumping. The characters are well-rounded and interact with each other in humorous ways. If you enjoyed the comedy and action found in My Hero Academia, there’s a strong chance you’ll adore One Punch Man.
Hunter X Hunter – Yoshihiro Togashi
Similarities – Action, Adventure, Characters
Hunter X Hunter is a classic ongoing battle shonen rich in fights and exploration. The series features well-constructed story arcs with differing themes, villains, and obstacles for our characters to overcome. While Yoshihiro Togashi’s artwork isn’t as smooth at first, readers will enjoy seeing him improve his craft over time.
In Hunter X Hunter, we follow Gon Freecss on his path to becoming a phenomenal hunter like his father Ging Freecss. Along the way, he’ll befriend other kind-hearted people named Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. They all have intriguing goals and backstories that are expanded upon as the series continues.
Like My Hero Academia, Hunter X Hunter spends time fleshing out our heroes and putting them in situations that’ll help them mature and develop over time. Hunter X Hunter’s power system feels more complex than the quirks you’d find in My Hero Academia. If you’re looking for another satisfying shonen manga to read that’s ongoing, give Hunter X Hunter a shot.
Black Clover – Yuuki Tabata
Similarities – Action & Adventure
Black Clover and My Hero Academia serve as void-filling series for those who adored Naruto and Bleach. They both evoke themes of friendship, heroism, and goodwill. With their distinct art styles and similar themes, it’d be hard not to compare Black Clover and My Hero Academia. Black Clover follows Asta, a boy ridiculed for his inability to wield magic.
Eventually, Asta encounters a villain that’ll help him awaken his dormant powers. After attaining this strength locked within himself, Asta embarks on a quest to become his world’s, Wizard King. From that description, Black Clover offers the same set-up as My Hero Academia. Izuku and Asta start off as wimpy individuals but develop powers that’ll rival those of powerful foes.
These series contain multiple shonen tropes. Some instances include making call-out attacks to participating in multiple tournaments. Black Clover leans more into a magical territory and has Asta traverse a medieval setting, though. If you’re looking for a fun magical adventure to read with shonen elements, give Black Clover a shot.
Kaiju No. 8 – Naoya Matsumoto
Similarities – Story Structure & Action
What if the world of Pacific Rim and Godzilla became a shonen manga? It’d probably turn out something like Naoya Matsumoto’s Kaiju No. 8. This manga takes place in a world where kaiju roam the planet, looking for structures to destroy and humans to eat. To defeat these beasts, a military unit called the Defense Corps steps in to fight them.
When they’ve vanquished a creature, “sweepers” come in to dispose of their remains. Series protagonist, Kafka Hibino is one of those sweepers whose unsatisfied with his work. He always wanted to join the Defense Corps at a young age and murder kaiju. It isn’t until an 18-year-old named Leno joins his cleaning team, that Kafka remembers his abandoned dream. Eventually, Kafka encounters a parasite-type kaiju that enters his mouth, turning him into a humanoid monster.
With his newfound abilities, Kafka aims to tackle his abandoned dream yet again. As one can tell, Kaiju No. 8’s story structure isn’t too far off from sounding like My Hero Academia’s plot. Izuku and Kafka get another shot at reaching their dreams due to the interference of a higher power. The monsters Kafka fights are brutal and well-designed. They harbor no ill will and will stop at nothing to make humans suffer. The manga’s side characters receive equal development and have moments that’ll allow them to shine next to Kafka.
If you’re looking for an entertaining manga with incredible monster designs and battles, give this one a shot.
Alice Academy – Tachibana Higuchi
Similarities – Supernatural Schools With Charming Characters
Alice Academy is what happens when you take My Hero Academia’s casts of superhuman abilities and give them to typical high school students. This manga doesn’t contain as much action as you’d expect. It feels more akin to a high school drama and comedy with superpowers serving as its unique gimmick.
Alice Academy promises to shower readers with boatloads of clever-written and well-executed humor. It follows two inseparable friends named Mikan Sakura and Hotaru Imai. Eventually, Hotaru departs Tokyo to attend an academy for gifted children called Alice Academy. Not wanting to feel abandoned, Mikan runs away from home to enroll in the school.
Mikan gets accepted into the school and reunites with her friend. Unfortunately, the academy isn’t as fun as she anticipated. It’s divided into a hierarchal system based on the strength of the students’ powers, their behavior, and academic performance. Mikan finds herself amongst the lower ranks and gets bullied by her new classmates.
As they continue on with their lives, they’ll unravel Alice Academy’s hidden mystery. This manga offers a decent storyline with charming characters and wonderful designs. Things can turn dark but not to the same degree as what you’d find in My Hero Academia. If you’re looking for a semi-dark supernatural manga with likable characters, give Alice Academy a shot.
Ratman – Sekihiko Ikui
Similarities – Action, Comedy, Superheroes
Ratman predates My Hero Academia and One Punch Man with its superhero-themed narrative. This is a shorter series that follows a tiny hero named Shuuto Katsuragi. He idolizes a hero similar vain as Izuku but gets teased by many people for his short height and inability to win fights.
What prevents Shuuto from giving up is his passion for superheroes. He loves sharing his love for heroes with his classmate Mirea Mizushima. Wanting to see Shuuto achieve his dreams, Mirea tricks him into participating in one of his sister’s experiments. Afterward, Shuuto embarks on multiple missions that’ll have him fighting various evil figures with vendettas against the world.
Many My Hero Academia fans will adore the villains, characters, and bouts scattered in Ratman. Although Shuuto doesn’t back up his heroic remarks with his fists, his inspirational dialogue will move people. The series touches a bit on romance, but it never goes anywhere. For fans looking for a fun superhero-themed action series with memorable characters and astonishing artwork, check this one out.
Solo Leveling – Chugong
Similarities – Story Structure & Characters
Solo Leveling is the webtoon equivalent to Attack On Titan regarding popularity. Many folks can’t wait to see this work get adapted into an anime as it delivers incredible storytelling, well-written characters, and beautifully drawn fights. Likewise, Solo Leveling contains a similar plot structure as My Hero Academia.
It takes place amidst the connection between the real world and a realm of magic and mythical beasts. Ordinary people receive superhuman abilities to combat these monstrosities. At the center of it all is 22-year-old Sung Jin-Woo, known as the weakest hunter in his universe. He continues to hunt low-ranked monsters but lives a miserable lifestyle.
One day, Jin-Woo notices a strange screen floating in front of him called a Quest Log. It asks Jin-Woo to complete a training program or he’ll endure a grave penalty. He tackles the task as he believes it can help him become a fierce Hunter. Like Izuku’s tale, Jin-Woo embarks on several missions that’ll help him grow as a person and warrior.
Chugong’s art style is immaculate and breathtaking. You’ll adore everything about Solo Leveling from its character designs to its action-packed fights. Folks searching for an incredible superhero-themed webtoon with several twists and cunning characters, should give this one a read.
Assassination Classroom – Yusei Matsui
Similarities – Characters, Setting, Action
This is another manga with a large ensemble cast of highly-skilled students. While its plot is vastly different in premise and theme, folks will notice the astonishing similarities between its cast’s personalities. Each student has a similar goal in mind but they develop individual goals once they reach maturity.
The series’s protagonists harbor similar signs of curiosity and intelligence. Assassination Classroom doesn’t contain any city-level action scenes, but the ones it provides will leave you with goosebumps. It has some emotional segments that’ll make you tear up and provides some satisfying twists to keep you invested.
This manga follows Class E, a group of students recognized as failures in their principal’s eyes. Despite his distaste for them, he allows the government to grant our kids an opportunity to redeem themselves. They must eliminate their new alien teacher Koro-sensei before the semester concludes. Otherwise, he’ll destroy the Earth.
If you’re looking for another intense manga to read that leans more into slice-of-life aspects than My Hero Academia does, give Assassination Classroom a shot.
So there we have it, our 8 books/manga to read after you’ve caught up with My Hero Academia.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!